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It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

The Discovery Channel's "How It's Made" is in our restoration center today and tomorrow to document the restoration of grand pianos.

I love the show and watch it often. I am not sure if this will help our industry in general, but I hope this brings some additional awareness to the possibility of owning a grand piano to the general public.

In 2007 (or so) the show did a segment on Mason & Hamlin and, although not many customers remember specifics, like the actual steps in building a piano or who the manufacturer was, a surprising number of our customers refer to the seeing it over the years.

Thanks all. I do not know when this will air as there is extensive editing to do once the crew returns to their studio in Montreal, but as I know more I will make sure to post a "heads up".

Just for fun we had quite a cultural exchange with these French Canadians - our guys gave the film crew the chance to experience true Philadelphia cheesesteaks. They seemed to enjoy them. I think I heard their arteries hardening as they ate.

If you want to get some conflict going get a die-hard UT tuner to debate an ET tuner. Unfortunately for the ratings that will put every one to sleep!

In a seemingly infinite universe-infinite human creativity is-seemingly possible.According to NASA, 93% of the earth like planets possible in the known universe have yet to be formed. Contact: Ed@LightHammerpiano.com

They are wrapping up the video shot today. It is amazing how much time goes into each shot... and each shot is only seconds. The director said that for each minute of actual final edited video between one and two hours of time has to be spent in filming.

Here are a few stills from the past few days:

The producer (in blue) sets up the next video sequence.

About to shoot!

This is what the cameraman sees.

Discussing the sequence of events needed when diagnosing and working with an older action.

Stringing a concert grand piano.

The one disappointing thing about this video is that the crew has a set time for a set number of shots. This means that we will be able to communicate the overview of what a typical restoration is, but will not be able to go into incredible detail within each step because of their schedule. I would love to have this opportunity with no finite schedule.

Things are dying down and we hope to be completed with the actual footage today. What fun I have had with a tremendous film crew and an expert staff - all of whom worked as a team. I have uploaded a few more stills from this afternoon for those who have interest:

Framing some of the last shots

Still framing.

Packing up some of the equipment.

This has been an adventure for me personally and I am looking forward to seeing the final product. It is a little intimidating because after the crew leaves, it is really all up to them. Editing is an art in itself and can change the viewers perception of what is happening, for sure.

Rich,My sincerest congratulations....you deserve the exposure and recognition. That being said, I agree that these things can be a crapshoot as far as being represented as you had hoped. I remember I was training for the Minnesota State Body Building Championships years ago and a local newspaper contacted me for an interview. The reporter and cameraman spent about an hour with me in the gym, asking questions and photographing the way one trains for these things. I thought it would be interesting and enlightening for folks that don't necessarily follow this stuff to see what goes into it. When the article was published, it was really shocking to me how little understanding the reporter had of what I was trying to say and the concepts I tried to get across. It is very unnerving to have your words and thoughts misrepresented by someone else, especially in a public venue. I also agree that something like piano restoration needs to get into the specifics and "nitty gritty" details to really convey what an incredible process it is.